AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has promised to appeal a federal court ruling that the state's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

Abbott released a statement Wednesday after federal District Judge Orlando Garcia said the ban violated the rights of homosexual couples who want to get married.

Garcia said the state could show no compelling reason to deny that right to the two couples who brought the lawsuit. But Abbott said states have the right to define marriage as they see fit.

Abbott's appeal will go to the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Federal judges in other state have reached similar conclusions and the case will likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Abbott is also the Republican front-runner to replace retiring Gov. Rick Perry.